Blues All Around Me: The Autobiography Of B. B. King PDF

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1 Blues All Around Me: The Autobiography Of B. B. King PDF

2 â œa treasure trove of informationâ told with real feeling.â â Washington Post Book Worldâ œcharming...honest...transcendentâ. It reads like a warm and lengthy conversation with a close friend.â â BillboardThe undisputed king of the blues, B.B. King puts his life into words in a story that spans tragedy, triumph, and everything in betweenâ and he tells it just how he plays it, straight from the heart. A true-to-life tale of overcoming monumental odds to succeed as an artist in an often unfriendly world, Blues All Around Me is also the story of how blues music changed during its migration from the Mississippi Delta to urban areas such as Chicago. Rolling Stone calls B.B.â s memoir a â œvery American success story [told] with the lyricism and leisurely pace of a born storyteller.â Paperback: 368 pages Publisher: It Books; Reprint edition (March 8, 2011) Language: English ISBN-10: ISBN-13: Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.9 x 9 inches Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 starsâ Â See all reviewsâ (70 customer reviews) Best Sellers Rank: #356,362 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #87 inâ Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Biographies > Rhythm & Blues #116 inâ Books > Arts & Photography > Music > Musical Genres > Blues #2362 inâ Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Ethnic & National Wow, I just finished reading this biography and am truly satisfied with my reading. It's been a long time since I read a book this refreshing. Talk about honesty, passion and heart.the last 3 chapters were especially entertaining, talking from the heart about issues generally left untouched. From page one, I couldn't put the book down.this book really helps you understand B.B's live performances. For anyone who as seen B.B. King live sometimes gets the feeling that his performance is a routine that dates back 25 years (well, I now know it is!), but this fact doesn't bother my anymore, understanding where the man comes from, better understanding his way of doing things.recommended for blues fans and anyone interested in a very entertaining read.

3 I can't remember a time I didn't know who B.B. King was, but only in the past few years did I own any of his music. Always a Rock & Roll fan I only discovered it's roots in Blues and Jazz in the past few years. Now I can't get enough of the Blues. I read this book before a much anticipated B.B. King concert I recently attended. I would highly recommend the book, not to mention the Concert. That's the remarkable thing about B.B. King, if you want to see him in concert in a city near you just wait. Even now in his late 70's, B.B. is still on tour booking 250 to 300 one night stands per year. He's been doing this for over 50 years! His autobiography, told in his own simple and patient voice, tells a complete story of this remarkable man. This book reveals the personality and character of B. B. King in a way that no "tell all" biography could. Along the way you also learn much about the history of 20th century music. B.B. is the king of blues, but as his book reveals he has a complex understanding of all forms of modern music. He knew most of the significant musicians of the last 60 years and the book is filled with great anecdotes about many of them. Sadly you also learn about the painful experiences of racism from the perception of a black entertainer who has been on the road since the days of segregation. Reading "Blues All Around Me" is like sitting down with the man himself and having the good sense to just sit and listen and keep your mouth shut. Speaking candidly, B.B. King reveals himself to be a very down-to-earth and genuinely likeable man who rose from an incredibly humble beginning to become the most beloved bluesman of all time. No subject is off-limits, and King approaches them all with the same honesty that he puts into his music. Despite his struggle to succeed and survive in a rascist world, his views on racism will surprise you. Also particularly interesting to me were his insights into his musical influences, developing his signature sound, and his comments about younger bluesmen like Stevie Ray Vaughn, whom he considered almost a son. The stories and comments in this book will stay with you long after you have put it down.by the way, contributor David Ritz has also collaborated on autobiographies of Etta James, Ray Charles, and Aretha Franklin. He had the good sense to sit back and listen to these folks as well. Warts and all, these books reveal the artists from the heart. If you're a fan of B.B. or simply a fan of the blues I think you'll enjoy this book. What I enjoyed most was the way it was written. Most of the time it felt like B.B. was talking directly to me which made all of the stories much more vivid. I took away from this book that not only was B.B. one of the greatest bluesmen of all time, he was also a great man. The book was well worth the time it took to read.

4 What a wonderful book about a wonderful singer/guitarist who has been giving us the blues for nearly sixty years now. This book is written in BB King's voice so it does feel like you are having a conversation with him, The tone is frank, the pace just right and the story absolutely intriguing. This talented performer's life has been drenched in the blues since his mother died while they were a family of plantation workers. The book takes you through BB's struggles a a street performer in his home town to a struggling act in Memphis where he felt like he would be lost in the hustle. BB is, as any fan would expect, a very humble fellow who is not afraid to acknowledge the role of luck wherever it has smiled on him. His humility, praise of other artistes and sheer hard work make for a life that is simple yet adventurous and very captivating. This is MUST reading for any BB fan and one of the most joyful aspects of artists' biographies is the fact that you learn about many other performers who in turn inspired the author. I felt the same way when I read Keith Richards' "Life" which led me to listen to (and inevitably fall in love with) Jimmy Reed's music. BB also mentions in great detail the singers/guitarists he admired and listens to even today. Go grab a copy today! loved it! david ritz really did an awesome job putting on paper bb's memories... all i have to say that when you are finished reading this book, damn you'll feel like you knew the man, you'll feel like you just have a couple of drinks with him and you were talking... just talking... well written, in a very honest-intimate sort of way Blues All Around Me: The Autobiography of B. B. King 48 Razor-Sharp 12-Bar Blues Riffs for Swing Bands and Blues Bands: B Flat Instruments Edition (Red Dog Music Books Razor-Sharp Blues Series) The Caged System and 100 Licks for Blues Guitar: Complete With 1 hour of Audio Examples: Master Blues Guitar (Play Blues Guitar Book 5) B.B. King: Blues Play-Along Volume 5 (Hal Leonard Blues Play-Along) The King Arthur Flour Baker's Companion: The All-Purpose Baking Cookbook A James Beard Award Winner (King Arthur Flour Cookbooks) The Complete Guide to Playing Blues Guitar: Book One - Rhythm (Play Blues Guitar) (Volume 1) Blues Who's Who: A Biographical Dictionary of Blues Singers (A Da Capo paperback) 101 Razor-Sharp Blues Guitar Fill-In Licks (Book and CD) (Red Dog Music Books Razor-Sharp Blues Guitar Series) Burning Blues Guitar: Watch and Learn Authentic Blues Rhythm and Lead Guitar Roots and Blues Mandolin: Learn the Essentials of Blues Mandolin - Rhythm & Lead - By Playing Classic Songs (Acoustic Guitar Private Lessons) Saved by the Blues: 36 Stories of Transformation through Blues Music and Dancing Blues You Can Use: A Complete Guide to Learning Blues Guitar Fingerstyle Blues Guitar: Master Acoustic Blues Guitar Fingerpicking and Soloing The Complete Guide to Playing Blues

5 Guitar Part One - Rhythm Guitar (Play Blues Guitar Book 1) The Complete Guide to Playing Blues Guitar: Book Three - Beyond Pentatonics (Play Blues Guitar) (Volume 3) The Complete Guide to Playing Blues Guitar Book Two: Lead Guitar Melodic Phrasing (Play Blues Guitar 2) Basic Blues Harmonica Method Level 1 (Harmonica Masterclass Complete Blues Harmonica Lesson) The Best of the Blues: The 101 Essential Blues Albums 101 Razor-Sharp Blues Guitar Turnarounds book and CD (Red Dog Music Books Razor-Sharp Blues Guitar Series) 101 Razor-Sharp Blues Guitar Rhythm Patterns in the Electric Urban / Chicago Style (Book and CD) (Red Dog Music Books Razor-Sharp Blues Guitar Series)